Powerlink has recently published a ‘Project Assessment Conclusions Report’ (PACR) to maintain reliability of supply at Ingham South Substation.

Ingham South Substation was established in 2005 as a replacement for the original Ingham Substation. Two 132/66kV transformers connect the substation to the Ergon Energy switchyard at Ingham, supplying the local area. Both transformers are now over 50 years old, having previously been installed at other locations on the network, and are nearing the end of their technical service lives, with an increasing risk of failure.
In June 2018 Powerlink published a ‘Project Specification Consultation Report’ (PSCR) identifying the proposed preferred option to address the risks and claiming exemption from producing a ‘Project Assessment Draft Report’ as allowed for under NER Clause 5.16.4(z1). There were no submissions received in response to the PSCR which closed in September 2018. As a result, no additional credible options that could deliver a material market benefit have been identified and the outcomes of the economic analysis contained in the PACR remain unchanged from those published in the PSCR.
The PACR recommends replacing both transformers by December 2019. The estimated capital cost is $5.7 million in 2017/18 prices. Powerlink is the proponent of this network project.